What's Happening?
Stage 32, a global entertainment community platform, has partnered with Evoke Entertainment to launch a new screenwriting contest aimed at discovering emerging romantic-comedy writers. This initiative, known as the Rom-Com Screenwriting Contest, serves as a talent incubator designed to fast-track writers from discovery to professional development and production. Submissions for the contest open in February, with Evoke Entertainment participating in the final round of judging. The process involves reviewing semi-finalists' loglines and reading the scripts of the ten finalists. The winner, selected based on creativity and commercial viability, will be announced on July 24. The winning script will be fast-tracked into development, with Evoke packaging
it for potential buyers across studios, streamers, and networks. Stage 32 will provide comprehensive script development support to the winner.
Why It's Important?
This contest represents a significant opportunity for aspiring screenwriters to break into the competitive entertainment industry. By providing a platform for undiscovered talent, Stage 32 and Evoke Entertainment are making the industry more accessible and meritocratic. The partnership leverages Stage 32's extensive network of 1.5 million members and Evoke's experience in producing romantic comedies for major platforms like Hallmark, Lifetime, and Netflix. The demand for feel-good content continues to grow, and this contest aims to meet that demand by finding fresh voices in the genre. For the entertainment industry, this initiative could lead to the discovery of new talent that can contribute to the creation of popular and commercially successful content.
What's Next?
Following the announcement of the winner on July 24, the winning script will enter the development phase. Evoke Entertainment will work on packaging the script for potential buyers, which could include studios, streaming services, and television networks. This process will involve pitching the script to various industry stakeholders to secure production deals. Stage 32 will continue to support the winner through script development, ensuring that the final product is polished and ready for production. The success of this contest could lead to similar initiatives in the future, further opening doors for emerging writers in the entertainment industry.
